Some of the TA artists will be travelling to NYC tomorrow via rideshare with a local baker :) and hopefully will have some time to stop by Trade School, but where is it??? I didn't see an address.
With reference to individual cultivation, there are a great many homes in temperate or colder regions that are heated via natural gas or propane. These fuels generate very little toxic soot or byproduct other than CO2 and water. Perhaps a way to harness this waste output safely without violating building code standards for exhaust would help boost output of the algal harvest.
I'm a bit concerned about the sanitary issues, and I don't know how well it would be accepted by the mass public of eating algae that grows in one's urine... Also what would a tank of diluted urine in your house smell like?
@SuzyHomemaker Red hat linux costs money because you are paying for support. Red hat also has Fedora which is free to use. If he wanted to truly make this open source. He should try making some how to videos available online for free, which one would learn how to build and maintain such a system. This would allow for a community to develop all over the world and not just where lectures are given (for a hefty price I might add). I believe the selling of premade kits fits perfectly into the open source mentality though.
I hope to hear more about Algae in the future from him.
This article is very interesting. Kudos to the scientist who wasn't satisfied "making computer chips run faster" as his life's mission. He is trying to shift the course of his life and do something significant that can dramatically help humankind and our planet.
I have eaten "spirulina balls" that I purchased from our local health food store. They are a rich green color, and the spirulina is mixed with other ingredients like honey, brown rice, oats, sesame seeds, and peanut butter. They measure about 3 inches in diameter, they taste amazing, and are kind of a soft, chewy, dessert delicacy. Because of the high protein content, however, you don't get the high and low that you might get from, say, a doughnut. Rather, it's a sustained, wonderful form of energy. You really get the feeling like you just ate something amazingly healthy, but delicious. After my husband 1st bought me one, I raved about how amazing they were, and told him that I could easily eat 3 or 4 of these a week as MEAL REPLACEMENTS. That's how satisfying they are! I would totally be interested in purchasing a "kit" to make my own algae. In reference to the Linux bit, if you want a version of Linux, like Red Hat, you purchase it with money. There is nothing wrong with this scientist trying to market a premade "algae kit". That doesn't mean Joe Schmoe can't go figure out how to make his own algae kit/lab. That's what makes it "open source".
Just curious,
I'm assuming that a successful algae 'farm' would still require large amounts of water (waste or otherwise). Is this something that could be successful in the arid areas of the world (Zambia, Congo, etc)?
Is there a way to separate and harvest the 'clean' algae from the waste water and recycle or reclaim enough to be sustainable if there isn't enough potable water for the current population in an area?
I've wanted to get this going myself, for years now, if not decades. Every time I see hungry people, I think of this. Thank god this guy came along. I hope he gets the proper push of support, and he almost has to...
I want to mention a resource for growing the community larger around this project relatively easily. The one word answer is home-schoolers. It's a science project, and the rest of the benefits all at the same time. I was home schooled from the 3rd grade up, and my mom was always getting us to do experiments. It's a great hands on way to learn, then on top of that my mom is very health conscious as are a lot of home schoolers that I have met. I have already sent the link to my mom who has several children still at home that may be doing this soon. I can't wait to see what she thinks and they come up with.
15 grams of dried spirulena per day is about 14240 calories a year.
A 1 square-meter box on the balcony can grow 10-15 kilos of potatoes per year, and give about 16000 calories of ready-to-cook potatoes. And they taste good.
There is one thing bothering me: How do we "wash" the algae of nutrients (organic waste) when we are about to eat them fresh? They come from a tank filled with diluted septic water.
With macroscopic plants it is obvious and even though we fertilize our lettuce with animal excrete, we don't get contaminated when we eat lettuce.
I expect this to go no where for the food market and perhaps even no where for the fuel market. A trendy experience among a certain (and rare) type of individual maybe but I'm certain nothing else.
I know this is selfish of me, but, why does it take a guy like this to say, 'Algae is the way'. Everyone then says, "It must be so!!!!!". I say years ago, "Algae is the way.". And people say, "Who do you think you are? What do you know about anything?"
You know, Michael, I have a feeling that if you wrote to Baum and proposed helping to create the "Linux of algae," he'd welcome the participation. I suspect very strongly that it's just a matter of time until the community reaches enough critical mass so that it goes truly open source.
So where's the open source material? A $150 seminar is mentioned, a $200 kit is mentioned, a community is mentioned. The "Linux of algae" would be available to people haven't gone to the seminar. Plans for the kit wouldn't have a price (although a pre-made kit with a pricetag is perfectly acceptable)
On a different note, there are scholars that believe the old testament story of the Israelites 40 years in the desert was made possible by an algae machine - Manna from Heaven anyone?
@umber
Given that throughout the article 'will algae solve world hunger' - is asked in various forms - I don't think it's unreasonable to be critical if the person purporting that algae is an answer says they're eating 'a lot' - when the quantity they are eating is so truly minute.
No, he's not advocating this as a significant part of the diet. When he says "...you can significantly supplement the diet of one person," I'm guessing he means exactly what he says; that it can _supplement_ the diet, not replace it. Try reading the article again.
@SpeedEvil: I'm sorry, but you're just being...I won't say "dumb," because I'm betting that violates this site's community standards...so instead I'll only say that you weren't reading very carefully. In that passage, Baum is very clearly describing spirulina is one small but regular part of his diet, as a kind of health supplement and additive. So you're not putting him or it down to call it a supplement or flavoring; you're just repeating what the man said in a derisive tone, likely in an effort to make yourself look smart compared to this guy who is obviously brilliant (and also a bit eccentric, I'll grant). In any event, the dietary stuff is secondary; the most important and interesting parts of this Q&A mostly have to do with his NASA research.
"I eat a lot - 15grams a day".
No, you don't.
You're advocating this as a significant part of the diet.
The first link I found gives for 15g of dried spirulena around 40 calories.
This is 2% of the energy you likely need.
If it's not dried, and that 15g is wet, it's _way_ under 1% of your daily calorific requirement.
15g a day is not a food. It's a spice, a flavoring, or a supplement.
Yeah...but I dont want to eat algae. Keep your future, Im going to continue to live in the past...with beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, and any other tasty meaty animal i can kill and cook.
YA YA!!! Love this.
We are starting one here in Trenton, NJ - well, we have already started one here in Trenton, NJ and need more people to join us in sharing knowledge.
www.trentonatelier.org
Some of the TA artists will be travelling to NYC tomorrow via rideshare with a local baker :) and hopefully will have some time to stop by Trade School, but where is it??? I didn't see an address.
- Bryan
Another gold comment!
Captivating story, very good characterisation, and very interesting thinking. You've got me twitching to read more!
I must say that the failure of money can and should be studied closely, and encourage interested readers to get their hands on Defying Hitler - a memoir by Sebastian Haffner (http://www.amazon.com/Defying-Hitler-Memoir-Sebastian-Haffner/dp/0312421...).
With reference to individual cultivation, there are a great many homes in temperate or colder regions that are heated via natural gas or propane. These fuels generate very little toxic soot or byproduct other than CO2 and water. Perhaps a way to harness this waste output safely without violating building code standards for exhaust would help boost output of the algal harvest.
I'm a bit concerned about the sanitary issues, and I don't know how well it would be accepted by the mass public of eating algae that grows in one's urine... Also what would a tank of diluted urine in your house smell like?
@SuzyHomemaker Red hat linux costs money because you are paying for support. Red hat also has Fedora which is free to use. If he wanted to truly make this open source. He should try making some how to videos available online for free, which one would learn how to build and maintain such a system. This would allow for a community to develop all over the world and not just where lectures are given (for a hefty price I might add). I believe the selling of premade kits fits perfectly into the open source mentality though.
I hope to hear more about Algae in the future from him.
Nice article, but: How does it work?!
This article is very interesting. Kudos to the scientist who wasn't satisfied "making computer chips run faster" as his life's mission. He is trying to shift the course of his life and do something significant that can dramatically help humankind and our planet.
I have eaten "spirulina balls" that I purchased from our local health food store. They are a rich green color, and the spirulina is mixed with other ingredients like honey, brown rice, oats, sesame seeds, and peanut butter. They measure about 3 inches in diameter, they taste amazing, and are kind of a soft, chewy, dessert delicacy. Because of the high protein content, however, you don't get the high and low that you might get from, say, a doughnut. Rather, it's a sustained, wonderful form of energy. You really get the feeling like you just ate something amazingly healthy, but delicious. After my husband 1st bought me one, I raved about how amazing they were, and told him that I could easily eat 3 or 4 of these a week as MEAL REPLACEMENTS. That's how satisfying they are! I would totally be interested in purchasing a "kit" to make my own algae. In reference to the Linux bit, if you want a version of Linux, like Red Hat, you purchase it with money. There is nothing wrong with this scientist trying to market a premade "algae kit". That doesn't mean Joe Schmoe can't go figure out how to make his own algae kit/lab. That's what makes it "open source".
Just curious,
I'm assuming that a successful algae 'farm' would still require large amounts of water (waste or otherwise). Is this something that could be successful in the arid areas of the world (Zambia, Congo, etc)?
Is there a way to separate and harvest the 'clean' algae from the waste water and recycle or reclaim enough to be sustainable if there isn't enough potable water for the current population in an area?
I've wanted to get this going myself, for years now, if not decades. Every time I see hungry people, I think of this. Thank god this guy came along. I hope he gets the proper push of support, and he almost has to...
I want to mention a resource for growing the community larger around this project relatively easily. The one word answer is home-schoolers. It's a science project, and the rest of the benefits all at the same time. I was home schooled from the 3rd grade up, and my mom was always getting us to do experiments. It's a great hands on way to learn, then on top of that my mom is very health conscious as are a lot of home schoolers that I have met. I have already sent the link to my mom who has several children still at home that may be doing this soon. I can't wait to see what she thinks and they come up with.
Enjoy,
Jarvis
I'm with SpeedEvil on this one.
15 grams of dried spirulena per day is about 14240 calories a year.
A 1 square-meter box on the balcony can grow 10-15 kilos of potatoes per year, and give about 16000 calories of ready-to-cook potatoes. And they taste good.
I have been an algaephile since high school.
The man is right. Have you ever wondered where the world oil supply came from? Or how this planet's atmosphere changed from mostly CO2 and nitrogen?
The true goal is to reach a combination of algal and bacterial systems that can provide a human's entire food supply.
Time, effort, money, and innovation bring things about, but only when people embrace them.
The money for the course is barely time and materials. And you'll actually learn something, unlike high-school biology.
I want to thank Aaron.
There is one thing bothering me: How do we "wash" the algae of nutrients (organic waste) when we are about to eat them fresh? They come from a tank filled with diluted septic water.
With macroscopic plants it is obvious and even though we fertilize our lettuce with animal excrete, we don't get contaminated when we eat lettuce.
I expect this to go no where for the food market and perhaps even no where for the fuel market. A trendy experience among a certain (and rare) type of individual maybe but I'm certain nothing else.
so a green fish pond is good, not bad?!
-
where is the easiest place to get a
"spirulina seed"? i'm in thailand.
Keep on keepin' on, Anonymous.
I know this is selfish of me, but, why does it take a guy like this to say, 'Algae is the way'. Everyone then says, "It must be so!!!!!". I say years ago, "Algae is the way.". And people say, "Who do you think you are? What do you know about anything?"
Eh, I hate people.
You know, Michael, I have a feeling that if you wrote to Baum and proposed helping to create the "Linux of algae," he'd welcome the participation. I suspect very strongly that it's just a matter of time until the community reaches enough critical mass so that it goes truly open source.
So where's the open source material? A $150 seminar is mentioned, a $200 kit is mentioned, a community is mentioned. The "Linux of algae" would be available to people haven't gone to the seminar. Plans for the kit wouldn't have a price (although a pre-made kit with a pricetag is perfectly acceptable)
On a different note, there are scholars that believe the old testament story of the Israelites 40 years in the desert was made possible by an algae machine - Manna from Heaven anyone?
@umber
Given that throughout the article 'will algae solve world hunger' - is asked in various forms - I don't think it's unreasonable to be critical if the person purporting that algae is an answer says they're eating 'a lot' - when the quantity they are eating is so truly minute.
No, he's not advocating this as a significant part of the diet. When he says "...you can significantly supplement the diet of one person," I'm guessing he means exactly what he says; that it can _supplement_ the diet, not replace it. Try reading the article again.
@SpeedEvil: I'm sorry, but you're just being...I won't say "dumb," because I'm betting that violates this site's community standards...so instead I'll only say that you weren't reading very carefully. In that passage, Baum is very clearly describing spirulina is one small but regular part of his diet, as a kind of health supplement and additive. So you're not putting him or it down to call it a supplement or flavoring; you're just repeating what the man said in a derisive tone, likely in an effort to make yourself look smart compared to this guy who is obviously brilliant (and also a bit eccentric, I'll grant). In any event, the dietary stuff is secondary; the most important and interesting parts of this Q&A mostly have to do with his NASA research.
This sounds wonderful! I'm also vegan and this sounds like quite a fun, interesting, and productive project. I may try it in the near future.
Soilent green is made out of peeee-ple's urine!
"I eat a lot - 15grams a day".
No, you don't.
You're advocating this as a significant part of the diet.
The first link I found gives for 15g of dried spirulena around 40 calories.
This is 2% of the energy you likely need.
If it's not dried, and that 15g is wet, it's _way_ under 1% of your daily calorific requirement.
15g a day is not a food. It's a spice, a flavoring, or a supplement.
Yeah...but I dont want to eat algae. Keep your future, Im going to continue to live in the past...with beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, and any other tasty meaty animal i can kill and cook.